Leather-backed, fingertip-less, suede, patterned, vibrant, colour-matched, however you like your driving gloves, the experience of using them while driving your favourite road with the autumn leaves blowing in your classic’s wake is one of the greatest joys of fall, and one we at Classic Driver welcome with open arms.
We’ve gathered selection of our favourite brands and products from the CD Shop, who have made a name for themselves based on their high quality, durability, style and variations. The hard part is choosing a favourite!
Café Leather
Purveyors of some of the finest leather goods that remain attainable and highly durable, Café Leather’s style is truly unmatched. Catering for various genres of fashion and lifestyle, the Portugal-based brand now produces a variety of leather desk organisers, phone cases, belts and even oxford shirts. However, it is driving gloves that they are arguably most famous for, and models like the Triton are many weekend driver’s go-to gloves. Deeply inspired by the 1950s, their master artisans handcraft every glove by hand with the finest leather and care to detail. The touch of the leather, the smell, the grip, these are the kind of gloves that will immediately convert you, even if you've never driven with a pair before!
The Outlierman
Combining Italian craftsmanship, classical styling and a rich admiration for the motoring world, The Outlierman celebrates the joy of driving with their fine selection of gloves. Ranging from open-fingered classics through to stylish stringbacks, the brand thrives on creating individual pieces that allow drivers to truly feel at one with their car. Out of their fabulous array of styles and shades, it is their collaboration with the 24 Hours of Le Mans that stand out the most for us. Finished in the iconic colour scheme, complete with embossed logos and rock ‘n roll stitching, these gloves are a fitting tribute to a the world's premier endurance race.
Larusmiani
If it’s pure style you’re after, Larusmiani have you more than covered with their array of driving gloves. Larusmiani is a brand that boasts unrivalled charm, oozing old-school Italian presence with a modern twist, and their gloves would feel right at home around the steering wheel of any beautiful classic. Our pick would be Laruismiani’s ‘Ken Miles’ gloves, which take inspiration from the legendary British racing driver and philanthropist. The high-quality Sea Island cotton grants a perfect fit while the deer skin leather enhances the elegant and fine design, making them suitable both during a race and a long countryside weekend drive!
Engelmüller
Finally, we head to the Czech Republic, where Ferdinand Engelmüller opened his shop in 1865. Today the brand is known globally for its exquisite driving gloves that have been a favourite among drivers for over 100 years. Thirty years after the brand was launched, Ferdinand’s son Emil took over the Czech-based business, and began to prepare a range of driving attire for the gentry that was exhibited in 1904. In 2015, the company was relaunched, and a new collection of fine driving gloves was released, paying tribute to its illustrious past. Our picks would be the J.B.66, a pair of gloves inspired by Jack Brabham, three-times Formula One World Champion and later founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor. The gloves are impeccably made, and feature soft lambskin in a beautiful two-colour combination.
